ISLAND VOICES

'Cookbook medicine' debatable but has merit

By Dr. Walton Shim

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 30, 2014

~~<p>In health care, &quot;pay for performance&quot; refers to the practice of payers and other health-field entities to encourage or require the performance or execution of certain prescribed tests or activities in the belief that they can attain better health care.</p><p>Examples of these guidelines are the requirements of insurance companies and payers such as Medicaid and Medicare that tests such as Hemoglobin A1c, blood glucose levels and eye examinations be required in the care of diabetics, and that blood pressures and antihypertensive medications be administered to patients with high blood pressure in order to be paid or reward-ed with a bonus.</p>~~

In health care, "pay for performance" refers to the practice of payers and other health-field entities to encourage or require the performance or execution of certain prescribed tests or activities in the belief that they can attain better health care.

Examples of these guidelines are the requirements of insurance companies and payers such as Medicaid and Medicare that tests such as Hemoglobin A1c, blood glucose levels and eye examinations be required in the care of diabetics, and that blood pressures and antihypertensive medications be administered to patients with high blood pressure in order to be paid or reward-ed with a bonus. Login for more...